Daily Crypto Briefing – January 6, 2026

The crypto market continues its strong start to 2026, with institutional adoption accelerating and regulatory clarity remaining in focus as key legislation faces potential delays.

Top Stories

Morgan Stanley Files for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs

The Block reports that the Wall Street heavyweight has filed SEC paperwork for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, marking the first major U.S. bank to enter this space. Analysts call this a "shocker" that could encourage other major investment firms to launch their own branded crypto ETFs.

Crypto Market Structure Bill Faces Delays

Multiple sources indicate the Responsible Financial Innovation Act could be delayed until 2027 due to midterm election concerns and Democratic demands for conflict-of-interest restrictions. However, CoinDesk reports that Senate negotiations have restarted with a markup potentially planned for next week.

Bitcoin ETFs See Massive Inflows

The Block notes that spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $697 million in net inflows on January 5, marking the largest single-day total since October. This signals renewed institutional interest as Bitcoin trades above $93,000.

DOJ Bitcoin Sale Controversy

CryptoBriefing reports the Department of Justice sold $6.3 million in Bitcoin from the Samourai Wallet case, potentially violating an executive order requiring Bitcoin be held in national reserves.

Regulation

Legislative Developments

• David Sacks reportedly met with lawmakers to discuss the crypto market structure bill, as regulatory clarity remains a priority for the industry
• Rep. Torres proposes banning federal officials from trading on prediction markets following a suspicious $400,000 Maduro bet
• South Korea considers allowing regulators to preemptively freeze crypto accounts suspected of market manipulation

International Actions

• Seven Chinese financial associations declared real-world asset tokenization illegal under securities laws
• EU calls Grok's AI-generated child images "illegal" and "disgusting" as global crackdowns intensify
• Community banks warn lawmakers about yield-bearing stablecoin loopholes in proposed legislation

Markets

Major Token Performance

• XRP surged 12% to reach $2.40, its highest level since mid-November, leading altcoin gains
• Bitcoin briefly touched $95,000 before pulling back to around $93,800, facing resistance at key levels
• Ethereum approached $3,300 with analysts watching for a potential 20% rally if key resistance breaks
• Solana, SUI, and RENDER posted strong gains as AI-focused tokens rallied

Market Dynamics

• Global crypto market cap reached $3.22 trillion, up 2% as major cryptocurrencies continue grinding higher
• Meme coins showed signs of life with Dogecoin up 17% over the past week
• Bitcoin experienced $83 million in liquidations as price dropped to $92,500 during volatile trading

Technology

Infrastructure Updates

• Lego debuts "Smart Brick" at CES, adding light, sound, and sensors to classic sets without screens
• Critical wallet bug found in Bitcoin Core v30 prompts urgent backup warnings for users
• Ethereum's staking queues cleared while 1.3 million ETH lined up for new staking positions

Platform Developments

• PancakeSwap overtook Uniswap on Base to become the second-largest DEX by volume
• Polymarket quietly changed its fee model for short-term crypto markets
• Lighter expanded to 24/5 trading for U.S. equity perpetual futures

DeFi

Protocol Updates

• Grayscale issued the first U.S. Ethereum ETF staking payout, distributing $9.4 million in cash rewards
• Infinex revised its fundraising structure, dropping the $5 million target and $2,500 wallet cap for a fair allocation model
• A sophisticated hacker drained $27 million from a multi-sig wallet, laundering $19.4 million through Tornado Cash

Stablecoin News

• Tether launched Scudo, a new unit of account for its gold-backed XAUT token to simplify fractional gold payments
• Circle's USDC outpaced Tether's USDT growth for the second consecutive year
• Coinbase suspended USDC on-ramping services in Argentina

Quick Hits

• Arthur Hayes' Maelstrom fund enters 2026 at "almost maximum risk" betting on altcoins
• Canaan launches pilot project converting Bitcoin mining heat to power greenhouse heating
• Former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz joins SUI Group board after failed chair nomination
• Telegram revenue surged 65% to $870 million despite $500 million bond freeze
• U.S. national debt reaches new high of $38.5 trillion, potentially benefiting Bitcoin and gold
• Ledger customers hit by third-party data exposure affecting contact information
• Bitcoin mining companies ended 2025 in the red but see path forward in early 2026
• Riot Platforms sold $200 million of Bitcoin in the last two months of 2025

What to Watch

• Senate markup of crypto market structure bill potentially scheduled for next week
• Bitcoin's ability to break through $95,000 resistance and maintain momentum toward $100,000
• Institutional adoption trends following Morgan Stanley's ETF filings and whether other banks follow suit
• Venezuela political developments and potential impact on global Bitcoin adoption
• Ethereum's technical setup as it approaches key resistance levels with strong ETF inflows continuing